Tickets
From Lab to Market: how do you turn research into entrepreneurship?
Powered by Wintercircus x VIB, supported by Biovia & Voka
Your research won't turn itself into a company. On 27 October, VIB and Wintercircus join forces for a hands-on afternoon, built for PhDs, postdocs, masters, entrepreneurs-in-residence and early spin-offs ready to take the step from research to company.
With a Storytelling Playbook by Jorn Vanysacker (100IN) and hard lessons from founders who once stood exactly where you are now. From go-to-market to funding and your first customers: hear it straight from people who have walked this path themselves.
Save the date and register (for free)!
* This event will be held in English.
Timetable
- 13u30: Doors
- 14u00: Impact intro - Carlo Boutton (CEO Biotalys) & Christel Menet (Confo Therapeutics)
- 14u30: Storytelling Playbook - Jorn Vanysacker (100IN)
- 15u15: Break
- 15u30: Funding & financing - Wim Van Criekinge (UGent) & Annick Verween (VIB)
- 16u00: Celebrating failures - VIB
- 16u30: Start Q&A
- 17u00: WTC x VIB Reception
- 18u00: End of event
Speakers
CARLO BOUTTON
Dr. Carlo Boutton joined Biotalys in May 2022 as Chief Scientific Officer. In March 2026, he was appointed as CEO ad interim and in August 2026 he became the CEO on a permanent basis.
Carlo brings more than 20 years of antibody and biochemistry leadership to the company. In his most recent role as Sanofi’s Global Head of Innovation, Large Molecules Research, Carlo drove the innovation strategy and managed an expansive team exploring novel technologies with antibodies, NANOBODIES® and other biologic modalities to find innovative pharmaceutical solutions. Before Sanofi, he held various scientific leadership roles at Ablynx (now Sanofi), where he focused on bioinformatics, protein modelling and finding new therapeutic applications for its NANOBODY® platform. At Ablynx, Carlo was also involved in multiple strategic partnerships as member of Joint Steering Committees. Previously, he took part in several anti-HIV and anti-HCV drug discovery projects at Tibotec (a subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson). At the start of his career, he contributed to the development of a platform to develop rationally designed therapeutics in the broad field of immunotherapy, at Algonomics (now Lonza). He is named co-inventor on more than 20 patent applications.
Carlo Boutton obtained his M.S. and PhD from the University of Leuven (Belgium), where he researched the physico-chemical behavior of proteins under high-electromagnetic fields.
About VIB
VIB (Flemish Institute for Biotechnology) is a leading international research institute that translates fundamental biological research into applications in healthcare, agriculture and industry. With more than 2,500 researchers spread across five Flemish universities and a strong track record in launching biotech spin-offs, VIB is not only a key player in Belgium but also within the European life sciences ecosystem.
Tech x Bio Night
Continue the conversation after the From Lab to Market afternoon programme at the Tech x Bio Night on 27 October, from 19:00 to 21:30 at Wintercircus.
Organised by FTI Ghent, VIB and Wintercircus, this evening brings Ghent’s tech and biotech ecosystems together around the same table for the first time. Expect inspiring conversations, new connections and opportunities to meet key players from both communities.
There are 400 places available and tickets are €75.
Are you attending From Lab to Market and also joining the evening programme? You’ll be invited to the joint WTC x VIB reception taking place between the two programmes.
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